Ball self-locking releasable coupling



May 1, 1945. Jv BROWN 2,375,072

BALL SELF-LOCKING RELEASABLE COUPLING Filed Nov. 27, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor and 5 15.

Y 19745- R. J. BROWN BALL SELF-LOCKING RELEASABLE COUPLING Filed Nov. 27, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 50507 Ja mes fimn/r/ May 1, 1945. R. J. BROWN BALL SELF-LOCKING RELEASABLE COUPLING Filed Nov. 27, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor James/ mm? Patented May 1, 1945 BALL SELF-LOCKING'REIJEA'SABLE COUPLING Robert James Brown, Los Angeles; Calif.

Application November 27, 1943, Serial No. 511,962

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in couplings such as can be employed in coupling gliders to aircraft, between trailers and drawn implements and vehicles, as a bomb release and .for various other purposes.

The principal object of the .present invention is to provide a self-locking coupling which can be easily released by remote control.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a coupling structure which can be employed in conjunction with swordfish gaffs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings- Figure .1 represents a side :elevational View of the coupling.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure '3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectiona'l view on line 5-'5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is 'a cross-sectionalwiew on line 6-6 of il tigure L2.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the shutterplate.

Figure :9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of coupling used in conjunction with a fish rgafi.

Figure 9a is a fragmentary elevation of the free end of the handle shown in Figure 9.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of the fulcrumed plate.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that reference character 5 may be considered as a tractor or aircraft. having a member 6 attached thereto to which, by simple means 1 a connection 8 is established between the member 6 and the coupling unit, generally referred to by numeral 9, and which forms the present invention.

This unit comprise an elongated barrel ||l having a solid body therein secured to the barrel Ill by a bolt, or the like l2.

A plug I3 is threadedly disposed into one end of the barrel l0 and is secured in place by a bolt or like member M.

In the other end of the barrel I0 is a longitudinally extending partition l5, which, in the form shown i Figure 4, has a pair of tapered openings l6, IS in the outer end portion thereof. The partition I5 is fixed and defines a pair of slideways l1, Hi, the first for a slide block l9 and the latter for the reception of a slide body '20, at the outer end of which is a coupling tongue 21.

This end portion of the barrel H! has an eye 22 and a complementary eye 23 is located on the slide body outside 'of the barrel 10. A chain bracket (see Fig. 3) connects the eyes 22, 23 and, in this connection, 'a snap fastener 25 maybe employed. This chain serves to limit the outward movement of the tongue 2|. 7

The slide block i9 has a pair of recesses 3|, '3] at the underside thereof which "are capable of 'matchingthe tapered openings H5, 16.

A shutter plate 32 having a pair of openings '33, 33 therein for receiving balls 34, 34 is provided with a depending head 35 between which and the adjacent end of the fixed body "a coiled compression; spring '36 is located. It will here be noted that the portions of the shutter plate, 32 inwardly of the openings 33 are bevelled so that the balls 34 will be scooped out of depressions in the top of the slide body 20 as the slide body 20 is moved outwardly by the pressure of the spring The tongue 2| may be released manually by the operation of an elongated control rod 38. This rod extends through bores in the body H and ,plug l3 and has a finger grip 39 at its outer end. The inner end of the rod 33 connects to the slide block 19 and a spring 40 is provided on this end portion and interposed between the slide 7 block "I 9 .and the body "I I.

As can be seen in Figure 5. the outer end of the slide block I9 is in the path of the swingable plate 28, this plate having an opening 4| at its upper end through which can be looped, as at 42, one end of a control cable or line 43.

The plate 28 is formed with upstanding ears 28 between which the loop 42 passes, thi loop also passing through an opening 281). The upper end of the plate is rolled to protect the rope 43.

It can now be seen the tongue 2| is engaged with some structure to be drawn. the slide body 20 is forced inwardly so that the balls 34, 34 are removed from the recesses 3|, 3| in the slide block l9, thus acting to interlock the slide body and prevent return of the tongue 2|.

When it is desired to release the tongue 2|, a

pull either on the manual control rod 38, or on the remote control line 43, will result in an inward movement of the block l9. This will resuit in the matching of the recess 3|, 3| with the balls 34, thus permitting the shutter plate 32 to act on the balls 34, 34 forcing the balls upwardly to the recesses 3|, 3| and freeing the shutter plate and the slide body 20 so that the spring projects the tongue outwardly.

A knob 45 is situated on the top of the barrel l just above the slide block l9 and is rotatable on a pin 46 which is disposed through spring 48 in knob 45 through slot 4! which i threaded into the slide block I9. Pin 46 has a locking pin 44 disposed through pin 46 in slot 4'! in the adjacent end of the barrel Ill, barrel I0 is formed to define a shoulder 50. The knob 45 can also be used as a release.

It can now be seen that the knob 45 can be lifted and rotated to a transverse position where it will abut the shoulder 50 and this will prevent retraction of the slide block [9 and release of the tongue 21.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figure 9 wherein a body Ila is provided with a tubular shell ma projecting beyond one end and having a longitudinal partition la therein serving to provide guideways for a slide block 19a and a slide body 26a, the slide body 20a having cooperative therewith a shutter plate 32a corresponding to the shutter plate 32, but having only one opening 331: therein.

The partition l5a has but a single tapered opening 16a and the slide block lla but a single recess 3|a.

The slide body 20a has a slot 26a. therein through which a pin 27a is disposed and on this is a plate 28a free to swing and having connected thereto a control cable or line 43a, this plate 28a being adapted to operate against the slide block Hill. The slide block 19a is operative against the compression spring 49a while the shutter plate 32a has a depending portion 35a between which and the adjacent end of the fixed body Ila a compression spring 36a is interposed.

The line 43a extends longitudinally of the body I la and is engaged by a spring clip 43?).

The only substantial diiierence between this form of the invention and the form shown in Figure 4, is that instead of a tongue 2!, this form of the invention carries a gaff hook 2|a such as is usedin the fishing industry.

Obviously, any number of balls 34 or 34a may be employed.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials ma be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A device of the character described comprising a body structure, a retractable coupling element, said coupling element having a shank longitudinally slidable in the body, a slide block in the body, said block having a recess or recesses, a spring biasing said block outwardly with re spect to said body, said shank having a recess or recesses, a ball or balls interposed between the shank and body block, and means for shifting the block against the bias of said spring so that its recess or recesses will match the ball or balls to release the shank with respect to the body,

2. A device of the character described comprising a body structure, a retractable coupling element, said coupling element having a shank longitudinally slidable in the body, a slide block in the body, said block having a recess or recesses,

' a spring biasing said slide block said shank having a recess or recesses, a ball or balls interposed between the shank and body block, and means for shifting the block against the bias of said spring so that its recess or recesses will match the ball or balls to release the shank with respect to the body, and latch means for holding the slide block against movement.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body structure, a retractable coupling element, said coupling element having a shank longitudinally slidable in the body, a slide block in the body, said block having a recess or recesses, a spring biasing said slide block, said shank having a recess or recesses, a ball or balls interposed between the shank and body block, and means for shifting the block against the bias of said spring so that its recess or recesses will match the ball or balls to release the shank with respect to the body, and latch means for holding the slide block against movement, said latch means including a member pivotally mounted in said shank and abutting said slide block.

4. A device of the character described comprising a body structure, a retractable coupling element, said coupling element having a shank 1ongitudinally slidable in the body, a slide block in the body, said block having a recess or recesses, a spring biasing said slide block, said shank having a recess or recesses, a ball or balls interposed between the shank and body block, and means for shifting the block against the bias of said spring so that its recess or recesses will match the ball or balls to release the shank with respect to the body, and latch means for holding the slide block against movement, said latch means including a member pivotally mounted in said shank and abutting said slide block, and remotely controlled means for releasing said latch means.

ROBERT JAMES BROWN. 

